Why Machines That Bend Are Better

Veritasium
13.5M subscribers
12,099,501 views 12 Mar 2019
Compliant mechanisms have lots of advantages over traditional devices. SimpliSafe is awesome security. It's really effective, easy to use, and the price is great. Check out SimpliSafe here: https://simplisafe.com/veritasium I visited the Compliant Mechanisms Research group at Brigham Young University and spoke to Professor Larry Howell: https://www.compliantmechanisms.byu.edu At the above link, you can download 3D-print files to make some of the objects in the video, plus learn more about compliant mechanisms. What I learned about compliant mechanisms I summarize in the 8 P's of compliant mechanisms: 1. Part count (reduced by having flexible parts instead of springs, hinges) 2. Productions processes (many, new, different enabled by compliant designs) 3. Price (reduced by fewer parts and different production processes) 4. Precise Motion (no backlash, less wear, friction) 5. Performance (no outgassing, doesn't require lubricant) 6. Proportions (reduced through different production processes) 7. Portability (lightweight due to simpler, reduced part count designs) 8. Predictability (devices are reliable over a long period of time) Special thanks to Patreon supporters: Donal Botkin, James M Nicholson, Michael Krugman, Nathan Hansen, Ron Neal, Stan Presolski, Terrance Shepherd Animation by Alan Chamberlain
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My new favourite video from you Derek!
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Professor Howell: "Here's my book, it's the most cited book in the field." He's flexing.
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As a former student of mechanical engineering I feel like this is the real business. 3D printing is a pretty cool addition to the toolbox but going back and rethinking linkage mechanisms in this way feels way, way more exciting and fruitful to me.
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I work in an R&D lab of a Swiss watchmaking company, and I can tell you that compliant mechanisms are currently by far the hottest topic in research for mechanical watches. For example, they're used in the form of microfabricated oscillatorsmade of Silicon in the Frederique Constant Monolithic and the Zenith Defy Lab.
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11:27 "So are these now being used on nuclear weapons?" "You know, it turns out they don't tell us" Now I know how to take my resume to the next level.
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The clutch is actually a centrifugal clutch, exactly like the ones in the chainsaw, but the one in chainsaw have 2 or 3 springs, and those springs break all the time. So these parts would be much more efficient since they’re made out of one piece. Nice!
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That man was such good sport. Very open with how it works. I personally thank him for being on this episode
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I used a chainsaw quite a bit and let me tell you I would've been saved a few headaches if the clutch had been a single compliant mechanism instead of the mess of metal and springs that it is. That is an amazing practical application for this.
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This is amazing. As a mechanical engineering student, we are learning all the ways to prevent bending and shear, whilst you guys are taking advantage of it to make advanced mechanisms.
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Always great when you can use Veritasium as a source in essays and stuff. Doing a 1st year eng research essay on the possible application of Compliant mechanisms in landing gear for spacecraft. (due in 3 hours as of writing this[almost done]) It is so nice to be able to watch a video and then understand(at least a vague understanding) of what all the papers I'm reading are actually saying. Edit: got an extension, now I can expand my conclusion paragraph
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Before I retired in 2009, I was talking with an associate in our testing lab that had worked on the safety and arming mechanisms on a particular nuke, in the conversation I asked about the high order of electronics that must be in those devices, to the contrary he said very simple mechanics and simple electric devices are used to keep reliability high.
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The thruster control module was probably the coolest thing I've seen all year.
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How cool is that! Actually most materials recover very fast from bending force, where you don't have fatigue or plastic deformation involved. The trick is to design for instance a tool where you can control the direction of the forces involved. If the tool is used as it supposed to be used it can almost last forever. Design and control the forces to work in the right direction and then make sure the design is used correctly. Nice...
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This man-made me to change my major from biochemistry to engineering. I just want to thank you for your inspirational video that kept me going to do things I love everyday.
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Another key factor for the increase in precision besides the elimination of play (backlash) is due to friction being almost eliminated. This eliminates hysteris, also known as virtual play. The precision error of a mechanism is the sum of its play and the virtual play components. I think that including some simple force/distance diagrams would have helped alot for understanding these concepts.
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I could totally see the plastic vise grips being used as some sort of pliers suitable for cleanroom use
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This is pretty cool, makes sense for some applications. My major concern would be stress and fatigue issues, of which they are obviously aware, and for which they have done some testing.
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That thruster control for the satellite is a thing of beauty. I'd love to see an animation of how it works!
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I love how he genuinely just loves his mechanisms, he looks like a kid with his favorite toy. The best way to be.
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Muito obrigado! Excelente vídeo, e agradeço também por estar disponível com legendas em português...
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